Attachment for rib knitting machines



Sept 23, 1941 L. A'. MORIN 2,256,525

ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES original Filed oep. 25, 1931 6 sheets-sheet 1 y/ .ff Ja' Sept. 23, 1941. L. A. MORIN 2,256,525

ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES original Filed 9ct. 25; 1951 e sheets-sheet 2 Tw-f f iHIIIIIIlVrI www' 70 ,ZA-mali fifa/m `/qllorney sept 23, 1941- L. A. MORIN 2,256,525

ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Oct. 25, 1931 v6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I nventor l/4llorr-1ey Sept 23, 1941 L.. A. MORIN 2,256,525

ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Oct. 23, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheeb 4 y `/qltorney 55155251941. ,A,M`OR,N I l 2,256,525

ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Original'Fle-d Occ.V 25, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5l www@ SPf-V 23, l941. I l.. A. MORIN 2,256,525

-ATTACHMENT FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES original Filed oct. 25, 1931 e Sheets-sheet s ./qliomey Patented Sept. 23.1941

vAprilenMEN'r Fon am xNrr'rlNG MACHINES Lionel A'.' Morin, Laconia, N. ll., allignor,by mesne assignments, to Hemphill Company, Pawtucket, B.. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Y application ootober 23.1931, serial No. 510.133 Renewed Deernber. 14, 1935 9 claims. (c1. ss-s) `This invention relates to an attachment for rib knitting machines and has forits primary `object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, an attachment of this character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of .which an elastic or rubber thread may be embodied, for example, in the upper portions of stockings for the purpose of rendering unnecessary the use of garters or other extraneous means for holding stockings up, the invention, of course, contemplating the embodiment of the elastic or rubber thread in other articles, such as thel cuffs of gloves and mittens, knee bands for knickers, sweater wristlets, hose or, in fact, any fabric that is knitted on a rib machine.

Another important object of the invention is t to provide an attachment :or riokmttmg machines of the character set forth which will lay elastic yarn in the fabric between the dial and cylinder stitches in a manner to render the c thread invisible from, either side of the fabric,

the incorporation of said elastic or rubber thread not changing the regularcourse of knitting the fabric.

Another important object of the invention is 'v to provide an attachment of the character described which may be mounted for operation on any type and size of rib knitting machines without the necessity of materially altering the same structurally and with a minimum expenditure of labor.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an attachment for rib knitting machines which will be simple in construction, strong, durable,

eillcient and reliable in operation and which may be manufactured at low cost.

Allof the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specilication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of la rib knitting machine showing an attachment in accordance with the present inventionl in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation taken substantially at right angles to Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in top -plan of the attach-f vment in position on the machine.

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the `attachyment with portions thereof removed.

the cam.

the attachment with the thread feeding arm in operative position.

Figure 6 is a detail view in `perspective s how-` ingthe manner in which the needles engage the rubber or/elastic thread.

Figure 7 is a .detail view in' side elevation of Figure 8 is a detail view in end elevation of the Figure 9 is adeveloped view of the cam.

Figure 10 is a detail view in plan of the feedlng arm supporting plate.

Figure 5 is a view in top plan of a portion of 55 Figure 11 is a detail' view in top plan of the feeding arm. f

Figure 12 is a plan view showing the manner in which the elastic or rubber thread is laid in the fabric.

Figure 13 is a view in top plan of a portion of the attachment with, the feeding arm in retracted position.

Figure 14 is a detail view in side elevation showing the means for supporting and rocking the thread engaging hook.

Figure 15 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line |5-I5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail view in side 'elevation` of the elastic or rubber thread cutter and retainer lshowing the same in closed position.

Figure 17 is aI detail view in side elevation of the retainer or cutter showing the same in open position.

Figure 18 is a detail view in vertical section through the thread cutter and retainer showing the same in closed position with the severed thread clamped therein.

Figure 19 is a detail view in elevation showing a portion of the means for actuating the thread 1 cutter and retainer.- v f Figure 20 is a detail view in side elevation of the feeding `arm and its supporting structure.

Figure 21 is a detail view in top plan showing the means for actuating the pivoted plate which supports the feeding arm.

Figure 22 is a view in side elevation of the cam operated lever forming one of the elements forv actuating the thread cutter and retainer. Figure 23 is a detail view in edge elevation of the cam engaged lever constituting one of the elements f or actuating the thread engaging hook.

Figure 24 is a detail view showing the link and lever arrangement for actuating the thread engaging hook from thecam.

.Referring now to the drawings in detail. it will be seen that the reference numeral l designates generally a conventional lrib knitting machine,

lower ends of the pins 23, 24 and 25.

the same comprising a frame 2 in which is journaled a shaft 3 having pulleys 4 thereon. The shaft 3 is driven from any suitable source of power. The machine I Vfurther includes a ring [gear l which is driven by.a beveled gear 6 iixed on the shaft 3. Mounted on the ring gear 5, as usual, for rotation therewith is the cylinder cam ring 1 which includes an upstanding portion .ory

neck 8. The reference numeral 9 designates the dial needles and 9' the cylinderneedles of the4 knitting machine.

The ring gear drives a beveled gear I8 which is mounted on the frame 2 and to which is nxed'a comparatively small gear'll which, in turn, drives the large gear I2. Fixed onv one' side of the gear l2 is an eccentric I3 upon which is operatively mounted a pawl I4 which is operatively engaged. with the ratchet wheel I5 for driving said ratchet wheel in the same direction in which the gear I2 is rotating. A sprocket l -wheel I6 is xed on one side of. the ratchet wheel I5 and trained thereover is a pattern chain l1. The pattern chain has mounted thereonseries of lugs I8, I9 and 28.

A guide 2| depends from the lower side of the table Tor top 22 ofthe machine I'and mounted y.foi-vertical reciprocation therein and extending slidably through the table or top 22 and projecting thereabove are the pins 23, 24 and 25. Arms 26 'are mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the frame 2 of the knitting machine I and are operatively engageable with the 21 extend downwardly from the arms 26 in the path of the lugs I8, I9 and 28 for engagement thereby. In this manner the pins 23, 24 and 25 are operatively connected with the series of lugs I8, I9 and 28, respectively in a manner to be raised thereby.

'I'he pins 23 and 24 operate certain parts of the knitting machine, but the pin 25 is usedv for operating-my attachment, as will be described hereinafter.

It may be well to lhere state thatthe attachment constituting the present invention is mounted on the ring 1 and rotates therewith. A pintle 28 projects horizontally from the upstanding portion 8 of the ring 1 and journaled thereon` is a cam'which is designated .generally by the reference numeral 29 and illustrated to advantage in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. 'I'he cam 29 comprises a substantially cylindricaliportion 38 having the circumferentially spaced lugs 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 projecting from the periphery of a flange 31 on one end of said cylindrical portion 38. Integral with the inner side of the flange 31 is a collar 38 the free side wall of which provides a cam surface 39 having the depression`48 therein. Spaced from the collar 38 and extending circumferentially of the vcylindrical portion 38 and integral therewith is a segmental collar 4l, theends of which are spaced from each other. The cam 29 further includes a lug 42 on the cylindrical portion 38 extending from the segmental collar 4I to'the free or outer end of saidcylindri- Fingersv jacent its angle, as at 61.

' is pivotally connected, at an intermediate point to the free end portion of a bracket 15 on they' A bracket 4a is nxed ony the ring 1 and rigidly 75 secured to the free end portion of said bracket is an angular, inclined plate 44. lAn arm 45 is ymounted for swinging movement in an inclined plane on the inclined, angular plate 44, said arm Ibeing connected thereto, as at 46. A standard 41 is mounted on the free end portion of the arm 45 and is provided with a transverse passage through which slidably extends the thread engaging h ook 48. The hook 48 also is mounted for rocking movement in the standard 41. Collars 49 and 58 are fixed on the hook 48 on opposite sides of the standard 41 and a vcoil spring v5I encircles the hook 48 and has. one end enotally mounted for swinging movement on said bracket is a lever 53 (see Figure 24), said lever 53 being connected to the bracket 52 at an intermediate point. A pin 54 is mounted on-the lower end portion of the lever 53 and is disposed in the path of the. lug 42 of the cam 29 for engaging the lever 53 with said cam for actuation thereby. An angular arm 55 (see Figure 14) is mounted on the bracket 43. and mounted for swinging movement on saidr arm is a lever 56. A link 51 connects the upper end of the lever 53 to the corresponding endv of the. lever 56, a pin andl slot connection -58 being provided between said link and the lever 56. A pitman 59 has one end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the arm 45 and its other end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the lever 56. In

this manner the arm 45 is connected to the cam 29 for actuation thereby.

A pin 68 depends from the collar 58 lon the hook 48;` An angular arm 6l is mounted on the ring 1 and terminates in an inclined free end portion having therein a slot v6 2 in which the pin 68 is operable. The pin 68 is engageabler with the ends of the slot 62 as the arm 45 approaches the limits of its movements for rocking the hook 48. This is illustrated to advantage in Figure 15 of the drawings. actuated in one direction only by the camA 29. A `coil spring 63 actuates thearm 45in the opposite direction. l .A

A plate 64 is pivotally mounted, as at 35, for swinging movement in a horizontal plane on the ring 1 and mounted for swinging movementv on I the-plate 64 is an 'angular thread feeding arm 66 which is pivotally connected to the plate ad- Formed `on one end portion of the feeding arm 55 is an eyeV `58 through which the rubber or elastic thread 69 is slidable. The thread 69 may be unwound from a suitable spool or the like located above the' knitting machine. An arm 18 is fixed on the feeding arm 66 and journaled thereon is a grooved pulley 1-I under which the thread 69 passes betore entering the eye 68. A coil spring 12 is op-v eratively connected to the-feeding -arm 66 for yieldingly urging the same in one direction, one end of the coill spring being anchored to the plate 64 and the other end of said coil spring being anchored to the feeding arm,

An arcuate arm 13 is rigidly connected tothe pivoted end portion of the plate 64. A lever 14 ring 1 and a link 16 operatively connects` the v A 2,256,525 Y by the pin el striking the end of the slots: an'

leveri14, at one end, with the free end of the l arcuate am 19. A pin 11 projects `from the other end portion ofthe lever 14 and rides on the operatively connected withthe link 19 for yieldinglyurging the plate 94 in one direction and for maintaining the pin l1 in engagement with the surface8'9 of the cam 29. Obviously, when the surface 99 of the cam 29; A coil spring 18 is pin 11 enters the depression 49 inthe surface 89 of the cam, the spring Y18 is permitted to swing the plate 94 inwardly.

The reference numeral 19 designates an angular bracket on the free end'portion of which is adjustably mounted a stop pin 89 the free end of which is engageable by the feeding arm 99 in a manner to limit the swinging movement of said feeding arm under impulsion by the coil spring 12. The reference numeral 8| designates generally a thread cutting and retaining unit which will be presently described in detail. When the Thus, the eye 98 is swung toward the unit 8l.

The unit 8| comprises al suitable supporting standard 82 upon which is mounted a stationary blade 89. The unit 9| further includes'a swinging blade 84 of substantially U-shaped cross section (see Figure 18) which coacts with the blade 83 for severing and then clamping or retaining the elastic or rubber thread 99. A lever 89 extends from the pivoted end of the blade 84 and pivotally connected `thereto is one end of a link 89. 'I'he reference numeral 91 (Fm. 22) designates a lever which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point and which, at `one end, terminates in a down turned nose portion 88 which is adapted to ride on the periphery of the collar 4| of the cam 29 and also on the cylindrical portion 89 (Fig. 2) of said cam between the ends of the collar 4|. The other end of the lever 81 is bifurcated, as at 99 and the furcations straddle the reduced extension 99 on one end.

of a lever 9| which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends. The link 99 is operatively connected to the other end of the lever 9|. Said lever 9| is of--angular form and is mounted on a bracket 92. This is best seen in Figure 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the swinging blade 84 of the unit 8| is connected to the cam 29 for actuation thereby. l

It will be supposed that the machine isf'functioning in the usual manner and it is desired to embody the elastic or rubber thread in the'fabric. The ring 1, with the attachment thereon, is rotating, of course, in a counterclockwise direction. The innermost pin 29 is raised by one of the lugs 29 on the chain |1 with the result that in the next revolution of the ring 1 the lug 8| on the cam 29 will engage said pin 29 and cause the cam to rotate a fraction of a revolution. 'I'his movement of the cam 29 causes the lug 42 on the cam to engage the pin 94 on lever 99 so that the latter is rocked and exerts a pull on the link 91 which swings the lever 99 so that the pitman 99 swings the arm 49 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Due to the inclination of the plate 44 to which the arm 49 is pivoted, said arm moves downwardly and near the end of its movement, the hook 48 is given a partial turningmovement the arm 9|-,.see Fig. 15, and thus the bentend of the hook is caused to engage the elastic thread 99, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. When the lug 42 disengages the pin 94. the spring 99 re-A turns the arm 45 and the hook 48 to their original positions, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and then near the end of this returnmovement. 'the pin strikes the other end of the slot 92 so as to turn the hook to the' position shown in `full lines in Fig. 4.- On the return movement of the arm and hook, the elasticthread 99 vassumes the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 4, between the eye 98 and the combined cutter and=clamp 94. When the hook 49 is partially turned at the end of its return movement, as shown in full lines in Fig. v4, the elastic thread is released by the hook so as to be engaged by the hooks of some 'of the dial needles 9 which thereby cause the said elastic thread to be incorporated in the fabric.

As the ring 1 rotates around the stationary needle cylinder, the elastic thread assumes the position shown in dotted hnes A in Fig. 6 and after the clamp 84 has moved a certain distance past the point where the elastic thread is held in the fabric, the end of the thread will be pulled from the clamp 84. As before stated, only a few of the needles initially cause the elastic thread to be incorporated in the fabric, the said elastic thread being thereafter inlaid between the dial andv cylinder wales, the feeder 99 being back of the knitting needles and is too faraway to feed the elastic, thread to the needles. Consequently the feeder feeds the thread in back of the knitting needles between thedial and cylinder needles. Thus,

the elastic thread is inlaid in the fabric for the rest of the revolution of -the ring 1.

When lthe cam 29 again engages the pin 29, the- K tion, which, with the arrangement of lugs shown,

will be one-sixth of a revolution.

This movement of the cam 29 permits thepin 11 on the lever 14 to enter the depression 49 in the surface 39 of the cam 29 and permits the spring 18 to actuate the plate 94 and consequently the feeding arm 99, to the position shown in Fig. 5

and simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously, the nose 88 of the lever 81 drops from the periphery of the collar 4I of the cam 2'9 onto the cylindrical portion 99 for permitting the cutting and retaining unit 8| to be opened by a coil spring 92' which is connected to'the lever 9|. Opening of the cutting and retaining unit 8| permits thepend of the feeding arm 99 upon which the eye 98 is provided to pass between the -blades 89 and 84 to the position illustrated to advantage in Fig. 5 of the drawings. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5,*the elastic'vthread-continues to be inlaid in the fabric and as many courses of the elastic thread can be inlaid as desired. The inlaying will continue until the pin 25 is again raised by a lug 29 on the chain I1, it being understood that the pin drops to its normal position, either by gravity or by being springpressed, after a lug 29 on the chain |1 has passed the finger 21 of the arm 29 which is located under said pin 29. As before stated, the pins and the means for operating them are of the usual conof the dial needles by the movement ofthe hook 48 as illustrated in Fig. 4. After the elastic has been engaged in the hooks of a few of the dial drawings. returns the feeder` arm 66 with thevelastic thread invention as claimed.

needles, the feeder 66 is moved from the position of Fig'. 4 to that of Fig. 5 after release of the elas- .tic thread by the hook 48 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The close feeding of the elastic by the feeder 66, Fig. 5, causes the said elastic thread to be inlaid between dial and cylinder needles. i

When innermost pin 25 is again raised it engages the lug 33 of the cam 29 with the result that said cam is rotated another one-sixth of a turn. This movement of the cam 29 causes the pin 11 to ride from the lowermost portion of the depression 40 toward the surface 39 of the' cam '29, the rotation of said cam 29,stopping when the pin 11 is atan intermediate point, that is, when said pin is between the lowermost portion of the depression 40 and the surface 39. This swings the elastic or rubber thread feeding arm 66 outwardly toward its inoperative position and outy from between the blades 83 and 84 of the cutting and retaining unit 8|. When the lug 34 .of cam 29 engages the pin 25 the-unit 8| is swung to closed position by reason of the fact that they movement of the cam will cause the nose 88 o'f-'the'lever 81 to raise to the 'periphery ofsaid collar. In this manner the swinging blade 84 is swung downwardly to closed position against the tension of the coil spring 92'. As the feeding arm 66 is Aswung away from the unit 8| and toward its inoperative position, the elastic or rubber thread 69 is still feeding through the eye 68. The engagement ofthe lug 34 with the pin 25 takes place upon the completion of the next or fourth revolution ofthe next or fourth vrevolution of the ring 1. Closing of the unit 8| severs the elastic or rubber thread 69 and retains one end of the same, as clearly seen in Figure `18 of the This same movement of -the cam 29 to the inoperative position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. As 'said movement of the cam causes the pin 11 to move entirely out, of the recess upon thefstraight edge 3,9 of the part 38 of thelcamlfthis leaves the parts in their iirst ,position ready for the incorporation of the thread 69 in the material being knitted when desired but v this will not take place' until the lugs 20 are placed on the chain l1.'

' otaliy mounted on the ring for feeding an elastic thread to the needles, means mounted on the ring ior severing and retaining one end of the thread at the completion of the inlaying operation, means for engaging that part of the thread between the feeding arm and the severing' means with some of the needles, after which'the thread is'pulled from the retaining means by the rotary movement 'of the ring, means for simultaneously moving the severing and retaining means to inoperative position and moving the'feeding arm to operative position, whereby the elastic thread 'is inlaid in the fabric during the operation-of the machine, lmeans for moving the 'feeding arm Athrough lthe severing vand retaining meansto position apart of the thread therein, means for machineclosing the severing and retaining means to sever the thread, a cam member having parts thereon for operating the before-mentioned means, and means for actuating the cam member from the pattern means of the knitting machine.

2. An elastic thread'inlay attachment for rib knitting machines of the type including a rotary ring, comprising a thread feeding arm pivotally mounted on the ring, a severing and retaining member, including a pair of jaws, mounted on the ring, a hook member for engaging that part of operated by another part of the cam member for separating the jaws of the severing and retaining member', means operated by another part of the cam member for moving the feeding arm to operating position for feeding the th-reads between the stitches. the last-mentioned means being operated by the cam member to,move the feeding arm to place a part of the thread between the severing and retaining' members, when the cam member is again operated by the pattern mechanism, after which the cam member operates the jaw actuating means to close the jaws to sever the thread while retaining that part passing through the feeding arm.

3. An elastic thread inlaying attachment for vrib knitting machines of the type including a rotary ring, and pattern mechanism, comprising a thread receiving arm pivotally mounted on the ring, a severing and retaining member car-,-

ried by the ring, means for initially engaging a part of the thread, between the retaining member and the feeding arm with some of the needles, a member actuated from the pattern mechanism, carried by the ring, means for first actuating said initial means from the last-mentioned mem'- ber, means actuated from the last-mentioned member for movingthe severing and retaining member to inoperative position andmeansactuated from the last-mentioned member for simul-l taneously moving the feeding arm to operating position to inlay the elastic thread in the fabric,

' then when the member operated from'the pattern mechanism is again operated by said mechanism,

the feeding arm moves to inoperative position to move part of ythe elastic thread in the severing and retaining member after which said member` is moved to operative .position to sever the thread and retain that portion` leading to the` feeding arm. l

4. A circular knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles, means for. feeding an-elastic thread to the needles, anda clamp for retaining an end of an elastic thread, said clamp being located outside the circle of needles, means for engaging the elastic thread and-moving the same to a position to be engaged by the hooks of some of the needles, and other means for, thereafter causing the elastic thread to be moved to such a feeding position that the said `elastic thread is inlaid between the dialand cylinder needles.

'5. A circular knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles, means for feeding an elastic thread to the needles, and means for engaging the elastic thread and moving the same to a position to be engaged by the hooks of some of the needles, and other means for thereafter causing the elastic thread to be moved to such a feeding position that the said elastic thread is inlaid between the dial and cylinder needles.

6. A circular knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles, means for feeding an elastic thread to the needles, and a clamp for retaining an end of an elastic thread, said clamp being located outside the circle of needles, a movable member for engaging the elastic thread outside the needle circle and moving the same to a position to be engaged by the hooks of some of the needles, and other means for thereafter `causingthe elastic thread to be moved to such a feeding position that the said elastic thread is inlaid between the dial and cylinder needles.

7. A circular knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles, means for feeding an elastic thread to the needles, and a movable member for engaging the elastic thread outside the needle circle and moving the same to a position to be engaged by the hooks of some of the need1es, and other means for thereafter causing the elastic thread to be moved to such a feeding position that the said elastic thread is inlaid between the dial and cylinder needles.

8. A circular knitting machine having cylinder l and dial needles, means for feeding an elastic thread to the needles, and means for engaging the elastic thread and moving the same to a position to be engaged by the hooks of some of the needles and thereafter releasing the elastic thread, and other means for causing the elastic thread to be moved to such a feeding position that the said elastic thread is inlaid between the dial and cylinder needles.

9. A circular knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles and means for feeding a yarn to all the needles, in combination with supplemental means for initially feeding an elastic thread into the hooks of some of the dial needles, and supplemental means for causing such a relative movement between the elastic thread and the dial needles as to cause the said elastic thread thereafter to be inlaid between dial and cylinder needles.

" .l LIONEL A. MORIN. 

